PHARMACEUTICAL CARE IN PRE- AND POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS FOR HIV: PERSPECTIVES ON HUMANIZATION AND ACCESS EXPANSION IN THE BRAZILIAN UNIFIED HEALTH SYSTEM (SUS)

Abstract

Introduction: HIV remains one of the most critical global public health challenges, demanding comprehensive prevention strategies that combine technical and humanized care. In Brazil, the incorporation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) into the Unified Health System (SUS) marks a major step forward in expanding access to prevention. Objective: To analyze the pharmacist’s role in PrEP and PEP, addressing clinical, educational, and ethical dimensions, and to discuss how this role contributes to care humanization and the strengthening of the SUS. Methodology: A narrative literature review with a qualitative and exploratory approach was conducted using national and international databases (SciELO, BVS, LILACS, PubMed, and Google Scholar) and official documents from the Ministry of Health and the Federal Pharmacy Council, covering publications from 2015 to 2025. Results and Discussion: Pharmacists play a key role in supporting adherence, promoting health education, and reducing stigma, acting as a bridge between pharmacological treatment and humanized care. The expansion of PrEP and PEP prescription rights to pharmacists and nurses strengthens decentralization and the sustainability of healthcare. However, challenges persist regarding professional training and the consolidation of clinical pharmacy practice nationwide. Conclusion: Pharmaceutical care in PrEP and PEP represents a strategic component of HIV prevention, integrating science with empathy, technique with listening. Strengthening this practice enhances equity, humanization, and the Brazilian response to the HIV epidemic.